I'm already a member of this forum but have been trying to get my sister to sign up. She has had thyroid problems for over 20 years and we have a full family history of under active thyroid. She never seems well though and has struggled with her weight for years. She holds a busy full time job and also free lances for another company and has 2 kids. But she also suffers terribly with mental health problems. She gets periods where she is so low and so sad, its awful. Ive been bugging her to get tests done at doctors and get her levels checked. She recently went after having more bloods done, then paid £10 for the privilege of her results. She has sent them to me as i said i would like to show the group on her. Which she has consented to. However her doc has sent her away with a higher dose of Prozac. And I'm worried for her. From what i can see on her paper work her thyroid results look good, not sure what any of the rest mean. But i don't see any for Ferritin, Vit D etc. She is back in two weeks for more bloods. What should I be telling her she needs her docotor to check. I'm worried they keep pumping her full of happy pills and its not fixing her problems. Any help appreciated.

5 Replies

Lucky14. Your sister should complain to the practice manager about being charged £10 for 2-3 pages of results. The practice is entitled to charge for the cost of printer ink and paper but shouldn't be using it as a revenue stream. A commercial printer is unlikely to charge more than 40-50p a sheet. ico.org.uk/for_the_public/t...

The results and ranges have been separated and are unintelligable as presented. FT4 and TSH results and ranges are:

Free T4 level 18 pmol/L (10-25)

TSH level 0.12 mU/L (0.35-4.5)

Is your sister on Levothyroxine? TSH is low and FT4 is just over halfway through range. They're good results and don't indicate thyroid dysfunction if your sister isn't taking Levothyroxine. If she is, a dose increase to raise FT4 might be helpful but it will further suppress TSH which her GP will probably baulk at.

Lucky14, as I said above, a dose increase should improve FT4 and it will increase FT3. Low T3 causes hypo symptoms which make it difficult to lose weight and can cause/exacerbate depression. The addition of Liothyronine (T3) can be beneficial if FT3 is low. It is difficult to get it prescribed without a NHS endo recommendation but it is available online without prescription.

Given your family history have you considered Thyroid Hormone Resistance (also known as reduced sensitivity to thyroid hormone) as a possibility? With this condition the body needs very high levels of T3. It is genetic so would fit with your family incidence of thyroid problems.

I have compiled a lot of information on the condition which I can send by email. If interested please send me a personal message with your email address.